Rock Throw vs. Rock Slide: The Ultimate Rock-Type Move Showdown!
The definitive answer is clear: Rock Slide is unequivocally the superior move compared to Rock Throw in almost every conceivable scenario. While Rock Throw might seem appealing due to its slightly higher PP (Power Points), its low damage output and lack of secondary effects make it a poor choice in nearly all situations. Rock Slide’s higher base power, potential for flinching, and ability to hit multiple targets in double battles far outweigh its lower PP and slightly less-than-perfect accuracy. Any serious Pokémon trainer knows the value of power and utility, and Rock Slide delivers both.
Why Rock Slide Reigns Supreme
To understand why Rock Slide dominates Rock Throw, let’s delve deeper into a comparative analysis:
- Base Power: Rock Slide boasts a significantly higher base power, meaning it inflicts considerably more damage. This difference can be the deciding factor in whether you knock out an opponent or leave them with just enough health to retaliate.
- Accuracy: While Rock Throw often has a slightly better accuracy percentage than Rock Slide, its low power means that even if it hits, the damage is negligible. Rock Slide’s slight accuracy drop is a very acceptable trade-off for a powerful attack.
- Secondary Effects: Rock Slide has a 30% chance to cause the target to flinch, preventing them from attacking on their turn. This can be incredibly valuable for stalling or disrupting your opponent’s strategy, especially in competitive play. Rock Throw offers no such secondary effects.
- Battle Format Viability: In double or triple battles, Rock Slide can hit multiple opponents simultaneously. This makes it a highly effective spread move, capable of dealing significant damage to the entire opposing team. Rock Throw, being a single-target attack, lacks this versatility.
- PP (Power Points): Rock Throw has a slightly higher number of PP than Rock Slide. However, the increased damage output of Rock Slide far outweighs the PP. Plus, items like Ethers and Elixirs can restore PP if needed, rendering this advantage largely irrelevant.
In essence, Rock Throw is a weak, outdated move that has little to offer compared to the powerful and versatile Rock Slide. It’s a classic case of trading a small amount of reliability for a massive gain in potential impact.
Unpacking the Nuances: When Might Rock Throw Seem Better?
Let’s be realistic: there are instances where Rock Throw might seem appealing, but these are extremely limited and often represent suboptimal choices:
- Very Early Game: If you’re in the absolute earliest stages of a Pokémon game, and Rock Throw is the only Rock-type move available, it’s better than nothing. However, it’s crucial to replace it with a better move as soon as possible.
- PP Conservation in Extremely Specific Scenarios: Imagine navigating an area with very limited access to healing items where you need a Rock-type move to use on every single opposing Pokemon. In this situation, Rock Throw may be the only option. However, in these cases, it is generally more beneficial to simply use the strongest possible move, as it will likely end the fight faster and help conserve healing items by reducing the damage you take.
Even in these scenarios, there are probably better options.
Rock-Type Move Hierarchy: Where Does Rock Slide Fit?
Rock Slide is a good move but it is by no means the best Rock-type move out there. Here’s an overview of some Rock-type moves:
- Top Tier: Stone Edge (high power, critical hit chance), Diamond Storm (high power, defense boost chance), Stone Axe (high power, sets Stealth Rock).
- Mid Tier: Rock Slide (good power, flinch chance, spread damage), Power Gem (reliable power, 100% accuracy), Meteor Beam (power boost).
- Low Tier: Rock Blast (multi-hit), Rock Tomb (speed reduction), Rock Throw (very low power).
As you can see, Rock Slide sits comfortably in the mid-tier, offering a solid balance of power, utility, and reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rock-Type Moves
1. What are Rock-type Pokémon weak against?
Rock-type Pokémon are weak against Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water types.
2. What types of Pokémon does Rock beat?
Rock-type moves are super effective against Bug, Fire, Flying, and Ice types.
3. Is Rock Slide a Physical or Special move?
Rock Slide is a Physical move.
4. What is the accuracy of Rock Slide?
Rock Slide has an accuracy of 90%.
5. What is the base power of Rock Slide?
Rock Slide has a base power of 75.
6. What is the strongest Rock-type move in the game?
That depends on the game. Many consider Stone Edge to be the strongest in some contexts, due to its high critical hit ratio. However, Diamond Storm and other moves could be considered better depending on your individual needs.
7. Does Rock Slide hit all opponents in a double battle?
Yes, Rock Slide hits all adjacent opponents in double and triple battles.
8. What does it mean when a move causes flinching?
A flinching move has a chance to make the target unable to attack on their turn.
9. What is the difference between Rock Blast and Rock Slide?
Rock Blast is a multi-hit move that strikes the target multiple times, while Rock Slide is a single-hit move that can hit multiple opponents in multi-battles and has a chance to flinch.
10. What are some good Pokémon that learn Rock Slide?
Many Pokémon can learn Rock Slide, including Tyranitar, Garchomp, Landorus, and Terrakion.
11. Is Rock Slide a good move in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Rock Slide is a decent move in Pokémon GO. It’s not the absolute best Rock-type move, but it’s reliable and relatively quick to charge.
12. What does PP mean in Pokémon?
PP stands for Power Points, and it represents the number of times a Pokémon can use a particular move.
13. Are Rock-type Pokémon generally strong?
Rock-type Pokémon are often known for their high defense stats, but they also have several common weaknesses. Their overall strength depends on the specific Pokémon and its moveset.
14. Is there a Rock-type move with 100% accuracy?
Yes, Power Gem is a Rock-type move with 100% accuracy and a base power of 80.
15. Where can I learn more about Pokémon strategy and competitive play?
You can find a wealth of information on websites like Serebii.net, Smogon University, and through communities like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org. These resources offer detailed move analyses, team-building strategies, and insights into the competitive Pokémon scene. You can also play the games and see what works for you.